San Diego, La Jolla Beach Wedding With A Group of Marines. By Troy Wegner Photography, Offering Any Active Military Personnel an Engagement Session

I thought these were worth posting as they are a representation of the fun and drama of a wedding day ;-). I know when I had taken these photos the bride and groom were both in the Core. The groom was just getting ready for his third tour in Iraq. Even though I shoot weddings its great to be able and stand back being a spectator while watching the friendship and laughter shared in such a day.  If you are in the U.S. military (Marines, Air Force, Navy) and active, I would like to offer you a complimentary engagement session if you book a wedding with us. This offer is for a limited time and will expire on 11-30-2011

Moral of these photos, no matter who you are, never upset the bride  ;-)

 

Destination Wedding Photographer Shows Some Behind the Scenes Photo’s. Visalia, Fresno, San Diego Photography

I have been asked on several occasions to share some behind the scenes of our award winning wedding photography. I have been wanting to do this for some time now so I hope you enjoy.

The weddings we are involved with are always fun and exciting.  With the day being one of the most important in your lives I want to make sure that any part I have in your day is going to be as fun and stress free as I can possibly make it. We really do provide you with an exceptional experience. There is no show or act and we do not perform in a different (fake) manner on your wedding day. We are the difference and how we conduct ourselves has proven to be the best form of advertising any business could hope to have….

This is definitely a people business and I cant wait to meet our next clients!

The one below is my all time favorite and I have even given this picture its own title. “The Ballet of Light”, I know my friend and assistant photographer will kill me for this but I absolutely love this shot  :-)  sorry Dave……  

Always having fun and keeping things real, we are Troy Wegner Photography.

Stacy and PJ Get Married, Photography by Local Visalia, Fresno, Tulare, Exeter Wedding Photographer Troy Wegner. Reception Was at The Grand 1401 in Fresno.

First off congratulations to Stacy and PJ on their incredible wedding. We had beautiful cool weather and a location that rivaled any state park. Your pictures came out amazing.

I want to say thank you to all the vendors that helped to make this wedding such a great success.

First off and in no particular order is Fowler Floral, they had made a beautiful bouquet that was just awesome. All the flowers and corsages  were not only fresh but full of colors!  Designed by Talene Kasparian-Cleveland what a really beautiful job. Kudos  to you at Fowler Floral. 2nd was the Cake, this cake was gorgeous and had beautiful details that went to the brides Asian roots. In the pictures you may see the coolness of the cake and how having it tie into who you are so subtly makes it even more sentimental. The cake was done by Randie at the Hula Girl Cakes. Many fabulous cakes have come from the Hula Girl, keep up the fantastic job Randie. The wedding dress came from Glamour Closet, and what Bride to be hasn't heard of them? This was absolutely the right dress for Stacy. She couldn’t have looked more beautiful in any other dress! The Dress was finessed in alterations by Mrs. Yoko Miyoshi.  For the reception venue they chose The Grand 1401. The ball room on the lower floor was absolutely beautiful with all the red trim and decorations. Keeping the reception moving was My Dance DJ  what a great job of running the up lighting  and making sure the music was pumping. Lastly I want to personally thank the Bedrosian family (National Raisin Company)for opening up their home and allowing my crew and self to photograph the wedding party at there residence.  Your home was lovely and your hospitality was very gracious to say the least, thank you! A big thank you to my assistant photographer David Donovan, always enjoy working with you buddy. Lastly of course all photography and style by Troy Wegner Photography.

I know if you were to use any one of these vendors in your wedding or event you would be satisfied with the product or service they provide to you. With so many vendors to choose from it can really be overwhelming.  I would encourage you to take a look for yourself.

Please enjoy some of my photography from Stacy and PJ’s wedding below. If you would like a complimentary wedding consultation to discuss your plans please contact me and we can arrange a time. 2twphoto@gmail.com Thank you……………. 

 

Visalia Fresno Best Wedding Photographer, The Latest In Top Wedding Dress Designs, Wedding Gowns And Picking A Wedding Dress

Flickr Tags: top wedding dress designs designers,wedding dress collection,wedding fashion,wedding dress shopping,new wedding gowns,wedding photographer

      When it comes to one of the most important purchases you can make for your wedding day it has got to be the dress. Because if you don’t look good in your dress or you feel you don’t look good, you will become more self conscious and worried through out the whole day. When really, you should be loving every moment your wedding day provides. You find yourself looking into every mirror or window reflection wondering if this or that is sticking out or worst yet falling out, yikes. All your worries and uncomfortable pokes will show on your face and body language as the wedding photographer (me) has been taking pictures non stop.  My job is to capture your whole day, and to show you looking the most gorgeous and beautiful you have ever looked in your life!

The incredibly gorgeous self confidence that a Bride has and shows when she is in her wedding dress makes for beautiful pictures. However, if you are uncomfortable wearing the dress and you bought it because the dress was on sale and made the budget well “your bad”. So consideration to style and comfort are a must. As a photographer I have seen what a cheap dress has done to a Brides self confidence.

Just as picking out the right dress is vitally important so is picking the right photographer. All I can say is shopping a photographer solely on price to fit in the budget  you may be getting exactly what you are paying for, a cheap photographer. When all the food has been eaten, the cake is gone, the flowers have withered away, the tuxes have been returned, the one thing that will remain and remain for your lifetime are your pictures. Please pick your photographer with the same discretion you have for your wedding dress. Sometimes you find a dress that is just a little bit more money than you would like to pay but it is “the perfect one”, so you end up buying it and spending a bit more. You are now thinking where can I cut back on the other wedding items to get the money back into the budget for everything else. Your Photography really should be the last item to cut from. In fact a lot of Brides will cut from everything else so they can add money to get the best Photographer. Your pictures will last forever…………           

Here is a link to some of the newest wedding dress designs as well as some of the top wedding dress and gown makers. I really hope the information has been helpful and has offered something for you to consider.

A link to wedding dress designs, “click this link”

Visalia, Fresno Wedding Photographer, The Grand 1401, Hotel in Fresno

I wanted to share a couple of my favorite images from the Wedding of Matt and Katie. They held both the wedding and the reception at the Grand 1401 in Fresno.  We were to shoot Bridal party pictures at Woodward Park but the 40 degree weather turned out to be a bit to cold for everyone.  We really made the best of it, shooting the entire day in doors. Also, a thank you to my second shooter David Donovan.

Thank you Matt and Katie and a big Congratulations to both of you. 

 

Visalia,Fresno Central California and Destinations. Wedding,Seniors,Family,Boudoir and Life Photographer

Visalia, Fresno Wedding Photographer, How To Choose A Wedding Photographer When You Have A Wedding Budget

Flickr Tags: Wedding,budget,photographer,Visalia,Fresno,Wedding Cordinator,troy wegner photography,sanger,madera,three rivers,best wedding photographer,cheap wedding photographer,photography,winery weddings

 

Wedding photography prices are all over the map. Some wedding photographers charge just a few hundred dollars to show up and shoot, some charge a few thousand dollars and some charge a small fortune to come and essentially do the same thing, right? After all, they are “just taking pictures” and with the technology that is available today, anyone can do it, right?

WRONG!

You’ve been planning your wedding in your mind since you were a little girl. You finally met the man of your dreams and he proposed. Now you have to actually plan your wedding; setting budgets, finding a venue, making decisions on who to invite,  what kind of flowers to have, finding the perfect dress, trying out different caterers, dealing with your future in-laws, the list goes on and on...

And then there’s the wedding photography; the one thing you have left to help you remember your emotions, events and details after the food has been devoured, the band has played, the flowers have withered and the guests have gone home. You soon come to find out that wedding photography prices vary widely. Some wedding photographers charge just a few hundred dollars to show up and shoot, some charge a few thousand dollars and some charge a small fortune. How to choose?!

Truth is, it’s hard to compare wedding photography prices because the numbers don’t always tell the whole story, so it’s important to compare apples to apples.

Here’s a real life scenario:

Let’s say you find 2 photographers who both have a package that cost $4,000.

For $4,000, Photographer A will shoot for 8 hours on the day of your wedding, include an engagement photo session, a framed print, a second shooter and a 20 page 11x14 album.

For the same $4,000 Photographer B will show up and shoot for 6 hours.

Which is the better deal? Well that all depends on the quality of the work and the experience the photographer delivers. What if Photographer A is brand new to the business and has only shot a handful of weddings? What if the album is made by some cheap manufacturer and has a funny smell to the faux leather? What if they take forever to return calls and emails and give you poor customer service? What if their work is average at best?  How do you feel about spending that $4,000?

Now let’s say Photographer B does an amazing job for his $4,000. He or she has tons of experience, the images are incredible, you had a blast being photographed and the customer service is top notch. Sure, you’re might have to spend a few thousand more dollars to get a nice album, but at least you will be in love with your images and you’ll enjoy them for years to come. I suggest you are getting better value for your money in this scenario.

I understand that there’s a lot of money being spent in the month leading up to the wedding and there is a lot to consider regarding wedding photography prices, in addition to all of the other vendors you are hiring for your wedding. I often advise my potential clients who are on a tighter budget to invest in the best wedding photography they can afford; get the best possible pictures first and foremost. You can always come back and order prints, albums & other products well after the wedding. (Traditionally paper is given as the first anniversary gift...may I suggest photo paper bound in a leather album?)

Disclaimer: I am certainly not suggesting that just because one wedding photographer has higher prices that they are automatically better. It’s still up to you to evaluate the skills and value provided by the photographers you are considering hiring.

Here is a simple checklist for you to use when trying to determine whether wedding photography prices are a good value or not:

Think about:

• The quality of the images  
• The quality of their albums
• The personality of the photographer, their presentation, their reputation and the service they deliver.

Also make sure to:

• Ask around. Getting referrals from trusted friends & colleagues is a great place to start.
• Do your homework. Browse through several photographers to find those you like who also fit your budget. 
• Meet them in person. You are stuck with your wedding photographer not only on your wedding day, but they’re usually the only vendor you have to deal with after your wedding is over. It’s important to hire someone you like and feel comfortable with.

Lastly, I suggest hiring a photographer who is passionate about their job. One who is dedicated to taking the best possible pictures on your day and delivering a remarkable experience to their clients. One who takes pride in the work they do and it makes in obvious for you to see. Invest in a professional who will take care of your memories.

I look forward to each wedding giving 110% and making images that can be presented as art. Always work with my couples I do everything possible to make the whole wedding day the best experience ever. I hope as you search for your wedding photographer that you would remember some of the information listed above as well as to consider me as your wedding photographer.

http://www.troywegnerphotography.com/

Picking A Wedding Photographer

Flickr Tags: visalia fresno wedding photographer,central california,central coast,the knot weddings,wedding style,wedding posing

You have been dreaming of your wedding day for years and planning it since you were a little girl having tea parties. Its one of the most important days of your life and you will share that day with the friends and family you love. While some of the memories from your dream wedding will gradually fade, your wedding pictures will live on. Here are a few tips to make sure your wedding pictures are exactly what you dreamed they would be.

Before hiring a wedding photographer I always recommend that brides and grooms take a look around the web and understand the difference in the main styles of wedding photography. Become an educated consumer by going to places like the knot. If you do not know what you want, then how can any wedding photographer or vendor give it to you? If you do not know, then how can they meet your needs completely. this is a recipe for a wedding disaster.  The question is do you know what you want? In general you could break wedding photography into a few popular styles like traditional, portrait or photojournalism.

After looking around the web for a few hours and coming up with some example for me to look at, most brides will say that they want their wedding images to be taken in the photojournalism style. Most brides do not want old fashioned portraits taken and they do not want cliché pictures either. However, there is another style of wedding photography that has become very popular in recent years, posed photojournalism. Huh?  What is that and do those words even go together, yes.  However, its also what most brides want and they do not even know it.

Posed photojournalism will make life easier for the bride and groom while the images simply just look better. This style gives you the wedding pictures you have dreamed of since you were a little girl. Most brides and grooms are not professional models and have no experience posing in front of the camera. How can you be expected to know how to pose for your wedding pictures? Its simple you cant. By getting together with a photographer who is playful and fun that will do anything to get you great wedding pictures, you will be on the right path to great images. Your wedding photographer should be there to help you and make sure that your pictures turn out perfect. Your job is to look beautiful, be happy, and get married. Our job as the photographer is to document your wedding day and make sure that you look your best.

You do not need to worry about the little things like is your hand in the right position, do you have a hair out of place or is your gown beautifully spread out with your veil showing?  I am watching carefully before the picture is taken and fixing or positioning anything that will improve your wedding pictures. Remember, by practicing posed photojournalism with your wedding photographer on your engagement shoot, you can relax on your wedding day and have more confidence that your images will look real and flow naturally.

I hope you have enjoyed this blog post and I look forward to meeting with any bride to be. If I can answer any questions you may have please feel free to contact me.  2twphoto@gmail.com

Liberty Station Point Loma Wedding in San Diego, Visalia Fresno Wedding Photographer Troy Wegner

 

I had a great opportunity to shoot in San Diego at Liberty Station in the Point Loma area with David Donovan. Liberty Station is an old Military Barracks that have now been converted to many shops and restaurants as well as a few hotels that have been built amongst everything.  The location is just West of the San Diego International Airport. Having beautiful water ways and parks that divide you from the airport area. 

Mikki and George tied the knot at the Marriot Hotel. The ceremony was outside on the beautiful grass lawn with the water behind them. The hotels amenities worked out great as the wedding parties booked rooms and we had a short distance to go for all the getting ready shots with each of the wedding parties. Having everyone get ready in the rooms allowed enough time to get some great photos under the bridges outside.

Mikki and George chose to do a “First Look” under the bridges. I do highly recommend for Brides to consider a first look as it allows for some great photos and it really is a very special moment that can be captured like no other.  Once the first look and that special time was captured we moved onto doing the wedding party shots. Again, highly recommended because now most of the wedding party is photographed and all that is left would be the ceremony and family shots. I have found that maintaining a schedule like this really helps to maintain a smooth rhythm for the wedding day and all the pictures are not piled up after the ceremony when everyone really just wants to get to the reception. 

Mikki and George had hired a Wedding Coordinator that was awesome. I would have to say this was the best coordinator I have worked with thus far. He did a fabulous job keeping everything on time, giving any heads up needed. Not only did he keep things running smoothly but  if he noticed a detail that was crooked or out of place he would take it upon himself to either fix it or make mention of it.  Helping us to keep  details in the photos perfect. Most of all, he did not tell us how to photograph. Trusting and leaving the entire creative process to be the photographers job, nice! That is why we are there!! I would highly recommend to anyone considering a coordinator to find a good one within your budget.

As some weddings can be covered by one photographer having two really takes any added stress off the main photographer and adds additional coverage. I was asked to second shoot for this venue by Dave.  The venue turned out to be really fantastic and the weather was just gorgeous. I just want to say thanks to Dave and the Wedding party for the opportunity to share in the very special day and for giving me another great wedding and venue to shoot. I am also happy to give out a link to Dave's photography business on my blog as we both work together often. http://www.ddonovanphoto.com

I hope you enjoy some of my images below.

               

Ritchie Barn Weddings, Visalia

LiveJournal Tags: visalia wedding photographer,ritchies barn,visalia outdoor wedding venues,fall wedding,ritchy barn,ritchie

LiveJournal Tags: country wedding,clarence ritchie

The Ritchie Barn really has all you need for making a beautiful wedding come alive. Located in Visalia, Ca the barn is known for its many parties and gatherings. I found myself amazed at all the nooks and crannies for spectacular photography. From quaint little walking trails to a little water creek that meanders through the trees. I would have to say that when timing the seasons right for a wedding the Ritchie Barn is a must.

Sean and Lenka choose the Ritchie Barn as there reception destination but the property offers so much more. The property even has a completely furnished and beautiful house that can be used. Even though the day was 103 degrees and very humid I  somehow imagined the lush vegetation and greenery was like being back in Maui for a moment.  Congratulations to Sean and Lenka on the start of a wonderful adventure together.

Ritchie Barn Map